Julius Jacobson (ophthalmologist)

Julius Jacobson

Julius Jacobson (18 August 1828 – 14 September 1889) was a German ophthalmologist, known for his efforts in establishing ophthalmology as an independent subject in Prussia, separate from surgery.

Born into a Jewish family in Königsberg,[1][2] he studied medicine at the University of Königsberg, receiving his doctorate in 1853. Following graduation, he furthered his education in ophthalmology at Prague under Carl Ferdinand von Arlt and at the University of Berlin as a pupil of Albrecht von Graefe. Afterwards, he returned to Königsberg, where in 1856–58 he worked as an assistant to Albert Seerig at the university surgical clinic. In 1859 he obtained his habilitation for ophthalmology, and two years later became an associate professor. In 1873 he was named a full professor of ophthalmology at the University of Königsberg, where he later became director of newly constructed eye clinic.[3][4] He died in Cranz.

His name is associated with "Jacobson's retinitis", a condition that is also referred to as syphilitic retinitis.[5] His daughter Margarethe Quidde married German pacifist Ludwig Quidde, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1927.[6]

  1. ^ Simon Wenkel, "Jewish Scientists in German-Speaking Academia: An Overview" in Ulrich Charpa & Ute Deichmann (ed.), Jews and Sciences in German Contexts: Case Studies from the 19th and 20th Centuries, Mohr Siebeck (2007), p. 282
  2. ^ Nathan Koren, Jewish Physicians: A Biographical Index, John Wiley & Sons (1973), p. 197
  3. ^ Hitz - Kozub; edited by Rudolf Vierhaus Deutsche Biographische Enzyklopaedie
  4. ^ Jacobson, Julius In: Neue Deutsche Biographie (NDB). Band 10, Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1974, ISBN 3-428-00191-5, S. 246 f.
  5. ^ The American illustrated medical dictionary by William Alexander Newman Dorland
  6. ^ Katja Franz, "Margarethe Quidde", Europäische Instrumentalistinnen des 18. und 19. Jahrhunderts Sophie Drinker Institut (2014).